Longtime US men’s national team standout and former Philadelphia Union defender Oguchi Onyewu announced his retirement via Instagram on Monday, calling time on a storied career for both club and country.
A member of the United States’ 2006 and 2010 World Cup teams and the squad that reached the 2009 Confederations Cup final, the Olney, Maryland product was one of the most imposing defenders in USMNT history and carved out more than a decade of success in Europe with some of the most storied clubs in the world, including Standard Liege, AC Milan and Newcastle United.
He finally returned home to sign with the Union in 2017 and became a surprise starter, playing in 22 matches and scoring one goal.
An alumnus of the memorable US U-17 national team crop that pioneered the Bradenton Residency program, finished fourth at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship and launched the careers of Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman and others, Onyewu retires with 69 USMNT caps, six international goals and two Gold Cup titles as well as a bevy of individual honors including the 2006 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award.
